War-Time Comedy

Animated cartoons during World War Two made fun of the enemy, but they also had war gags on the home front. Businesses shut down because of material being used for the war effort, food was being diverted to soldiers overseas, travel was discouraged so soldiers on leave could visit family, purchases of gas and other goods were restricted by rationing.

What’s Buzzin’ Buzzard (1943) is built around this. There’s a food shortage, so two vulture pals spend much of the cartoon trying to eat each other.

Near the start, there’s a food shortage gag combined with a factory closure gag when one of the vultures opens his mouth.



But there is food out there. Tex helps us out with an informative sign.



He tops it with a ration-point gag.



The vultures manage to catch the rabbit after he suddenly re-appears toward the end of the cartoon. But he becomes part of a war-time restriction, too. The rabbit points out the reason neither vulture can eat him.



The iris starts to close on the cartoon. But it’s not over. Tex has one more war-time gag, referring to an earlier shot in the cartoon when one of the vultures fantasized about eating a steak (difficult to obtain due to restrictions). A gong sounds, a title card appears and hitherto unheard announcer John Wald cries to the theatre audience: “Ladies and gentlemen, just a moment please. Due to the numerous requests received in the last five minutes, we’re going to show you the steak again.” The card slides to the side to reveal the steak, as Scott Bradley plays “Auld Lang Syne” in the background to end the cartoon.



Ed Love, Ray Abrams and Preston Blair are the credited animators. There is no story credit.